Hornets see off the Hurricanes to grab first win of the season.

Hornets travelled to Birmingham and saw off the Midlands Hurricanes in their second league game of the season.

Rochdale Hornets saw off a determined Midlands Hurricanes side to get their first victory of the 2023 Betfred League 1 season, in 24-32 win.

Tries from Lewis Else, Cian Tyrer, AJ Boardman, Aiden Roden and two from Andy Clarke were enough to give Gary Thornton's side their first win.

Midlands gave the Hornets a stern test, keeping the score to just two points at the halfway point. A little bit of experience through the likes of AJ Boardman, Jack Arnold and captain for the day, Dave Hewitt, got Rochdale over the line.

The match began at a fast pace, with Midlands taking the game to the Hornets, but it was the visitors who went over first through Else. Hornets' number six, who ran a good line and broke through the Hurricanes defence, got scoring for the game up and running. With the try converted, Hornets led 0-6 with two minutes played.

Thornton's men produced some good attacking play in the opening exchanges, seeing speedy winger Tyrer bundle over to extend the lead. With the conversion being put wide, Rochdale led 0-10 with eight minutes played.

Sheffield Eagles duo, Lewis Peachey and Joe Hird joined the Hornets on two-week loan deals prior to Sunday's game, but Hird's debut was cut short having to come off the field due to concussion.

After that, the hosts pegged a try back, to pull the score within four. 6-10, 16 minutes gone.

Having weathered a storm from Midlands, Rochdale forced an error via the Birmingham-based side to get the ball back, and just over midway through the first half, Clarke finished off a great bit of attacking Hornets play to score. 

The kick wasn't converted by Hewitt and Rochdale led 6-14, 23 minutes into the game.

Midlands then hit back, with a nice bit of attack themselves but the try may have been seen as a poor one for Rochdale to concede. However, after being converted the score was 12-14 to Rochdale at the break.

After failing to come out the traps the faster of the two sides, the home side got on the scoresheet first. The extras were added and the Hurricanes led 18-14, 44 minutes gone.

Not letting the game get away from them, the Hornets fought back and fullback Clarke got his second of the game to draw Rochdale level. 18-18, 53 minutes.

Then came an attacking onslaught by the Hornets. It seemed that Midlands couldn't handle what Rochdale were throwing at them and after giving away five consecutive penalties, Brad Clavering was sent to the sin-bin.

Hornets made this count when former Canes player Boardman powered over the line to open his account for the season and seemingly put the game beyond Midlands. With Hewitt on hand to add the extras, Rochdale led 18-24 with just under 15 minutes to go.

Better late than never but it seemed as if the Hornets found their groove in the game. Roden, playing in the hooker role for the game, dived over the line and won the game for Rochdale. Another two for Hewitt and the lead was 12 points.

With just nine minutes remaining, Midlands looked to drag themselves back into the game and did through Macauley Hallett. While the conversion was scored, it wasn't enough and with a final penalty goal scored by Hewitt at the other end, Rochdale took home the win.

Thornton's side might have been taken all the way but 24-32 was the final score and that gave Rochdale their first win of the season in the league, giving the side some positives to take into the game against Dewsbury, next up.

Hornets line-up: Clarke, Tyrer, O'Keefe, Cooke, Brookes, Else, Hewitt, Arnold, Berry, Killan, Brewin, Hird, Boardman

Interchange: Roden, Brannon, O'Hanlon, Peachey - 18th man: Jones